Sustainable routing and ai switching via UE assistance

Abstract

A method of operating a communications device is provided. The method comprises transmitting assistance information to infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network. The assistance information comprises at least one of a sustainability indication and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) switch indication. The sustainability indication indicates that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route. The sustainable communications route is a communications route comprising at least one sustainable communications node. The AI switch indication indicates that the communications device prefers to switch from using first AI functionality to perform a task to using second AI functionality to perform the task.

Description

[0001] P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 1

[0002] METHODS, COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT BACKGROUND

[0003] Field of Disclosure

[0004] The present disclosure relates to methods, communications devices, and infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network. The present application claims Paris Convention priority from EP application number EP 25151501.1, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0005] Description of Related Art

[0006] The “background” description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description which may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly or impliedly admitted as prior art against the present invention.

[0007] Previous generation mobile telecommunication systems, such as those based on the 3GPP defined UMTS and Long Term Evolution (LTE) architecture, are able to support a wider range of services than simple voice and messaging services offered by previous generations of mobile telecommunication systems. For example, with the improved radio interface and enhanced data rates provided by LTE systems, a user is able to enjoy high data rate applications such as mobile video streaming and mobile video conferencing that would previously only have been available via a fixed line data connection. The demand to deploy such networks is therefore strong and the coverage area of these networks, i.e. geographic locations where access to the networks is possible, is expected to continue to increase rapidly.

[0008] Current and future wireless communications networks are expected to routinely and efficiently support communications with an ever-increasing range of devices associated with a wider range of data traffic profiles and types than existing systems are optimised to support. For example, it is expected future wireless communications networks will be expected to efficiently support communications with devices including reduced complexity devices, machine type communication (MTC) devices, high resolution video displays, virtual reality headsets, extended Reality (XR) and so on. Some of these different types of devices may be deployed in very large numbers, for example low complexity devices for supporting the “The Internet of Things”, and may typically be associated with the transmissions of relatively small amounts of data with relatively high latency tolerance. Other types of device, for example supporting high-definition video streaming, may be associated with transmissions of relatively large amounts of data with relatively low latency tolerance. Other types of device, for example used for autonomous vehicle communications and for other critical applications, may be characterised by data that should be transmitted through the network with low latency and high reliability. A single device type might also be associated with different traffic profiles / characteristics depending on the application(s) it is running. For example, different considerations may apply for efficiently supporting data exchange with a smartphone when it is running a video streaming application (high downlink data) as compared to when it is running an Internet browsing application (sporadic uplink and downlink data) or being used for voice communications by an emergency responder in an emergency scenario (data subject to stringent reliability and latency requirements).

[0009] In view of this there is expected to be a desire for current wireless communications networks, for example those which may be referred to as 5G or new radio (NR) systems / new radio access technology (RAT) systems, or indeed future 6G wireless communications, as well as future iterations / releases of existing systems, to efficiently support connectivity for a wide range of devices associated with different applications and different characteristic data traffic profiles and requirements.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0011] The present disclosure can help address or mitigate at least some of the issues discussed above.

[0012] Respective aspects and features of the present disclosure are defined in the appended claims.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 2

[0013] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the present technology. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0014] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0016] Figure 1 schematically represents some aspects of an LTE-type wireless telecommunication system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] Figure 2 schematically represents some aspects of an NR-type wireless telecommunications system which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram of an example infrastructure equipment and communications device which may be configured to operate in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 4 schematically illustrates a UE providing a network with UE assistance information;

[0020] Figure 5 schematically illustrates a life cycle management (LCM) architecture for an artificial intelligence model;

[0021] Figure 6 illustrates an example of an LCM procedure;

[0022] Figure 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of operating a communications device in accordance with example embodiments;

[0023] Figure 8 schematically illustrates the network providing the UE with permission to transmit a sustainability indication and / or an Al switch indication in accordance with example embodiments; and Figure 9 schematically illustrates the network providing the UE with permission to transmit a sustainability indication and / or an Al switch indication in response to a request from the UE in accordance with example embodiments.

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Long Term Evolution Advanced Radio Access Technology (4G)

[0026] Figure 1 provides a schematic diagram illustrating some basic functionality of a mobile telecommunications network / system 6 operating generally in accordance with LTE principles, but which may also support other radio access technologies, and which may be adapted to implement embodiments of the disclosure as described herein. Various elements of Figure 1 and certain aspects of their respective modes of operation are well-known and defined in the relevant standards administered by the 3GPP (RTM) body, and also described in many books on the subject, for example, Holma H. and Toskala A [1], It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications networks discussed herein which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any known techniques, for example according to the relevant standards and known proposed modifications and additions to the relevant standards.

[0027] The network 6 includes a plurality of base stations 1 connected to a core network 2. Each base station provides a coverage area 3 (i.e., a cell) within which data can be communicated to and from communications devices 4. Although each base station 1 is shown in Figure 1 as a single entity, theP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 3

[0028] skilled person will appreciate that some of the functions of the base station may be carried out by disparate, inter-connected elements, such as antennas (or antennae), remote radio heads, amplifiers, etc. Collectively, one or more base stations may form a radio access network.

[0029] Data is transmitted from base stations 1 to communications devices 4 within their respective coverage areas 3 via a radio downlink (DL). Data is transmitted from communications devices 4 to the base stations 1 via a radio uplink (UL). The core network 2 routes data to and from the communications devices 4 via the respective base stations 1 and provides functions such as authentication, mobility management, charging and so on. Terminal devices may also be referred to as mobile stations, user equipment (UE), user terminal, mobile radio, communications device, and so forth. Services provided by the core network 2 may include connectivity to the internet or to external telephony services. The core network 2 may further track the location of the communications devices 4 so that it can efficiently contact (i.e., page) the communications devices 4 for transmitting downlink data towards the communications devices 4.

[0030] Base stations, which are an example of network infrastructure equipment, may also be referred to as transceiver stations, nodeBs, e-nodeBs, eNB, g-nodeBs, gNB and so forth. The base station may also referred to as Radio Access Network (RAN) node (e.g., EUTRAN, NG RAN). In this regard different terminology is often associated with different generations of wireless telecommunications systems for elements providing broadly comparable functionality. However, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be equally implemented in different generations of wireless telecommunications systems, and for simplicity certain terminology may be used regardless of the underlying network architecture. That is to say, the use of a specific term in relation to certain example implementations is not intended to indicate these implementations are limited to a certain generation of network that may be most associated with that particular terminology.

[0031] New Radio Access Technology (5G)

[0032] An example configuration of a wireless communications network which uses some of the terminology proposed for and used in NR and 5G is shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2 a plurality of transmission and reception points (TRPs) 10 are connected to distributed control units (DUs) 41, 42 by a connection interface represented as a line 16. Each of the TRPs 10 is arranged to transmit and receive signals via a wireless access interface within a radio frequency bandwidth available to the wireless communications network. Thus, within a range for performing radio communications via the wireless access interface, each of the TRPs 10 has a coverage area as represented by a circle 12. As such, wireless communications devices 14 which are within the coverage area 12 of each of the TRPs 10 can transmit and receive signals to and from those TRPs 10 via the wireless access interface. Each of the distributed units 41, 42 are connected to a central unit (CU) 40 (which may be referred to as a controlling node) via an interface 46. The central unit 40 is then connected to the core network 20 which may contain all other functions required to transmit data for communicating to and from the wireless communications devices and the core network 20 may be connected to other networks 30.

[0033] The elements of the wireless access network shown in Figure 2 may operate in a similar way to corresponding elements of an LTE network as described with regard to the example of Figure 1. It will be appreciated that operational aspects of the telecommunications network represented in Figure 2, and of other networks discussed herein in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure, which are not specifically described (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be implemented in accordance with any knownP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 4

[0034] techniques, for example according to currently used approaches for implementing such operational aspects of wireless telecommunications systems, e.g. in accordance with the relevant standards.

[0035] The TRPs 10 of Figure 2 may in part have a corresponding functionality to a base station, eNodeB of an LTE network, or gNB of an NR network. Similarly, the communications devices 14 may have a functionality corresponding to the UE devices 4 known for operation with an LTE network or NR network. It will be appreciated therefore that operational aspects of a new RAT network (for example in relation to specific communication protocols and physical channels for communicating between different elements) may be different to those known from LTE, NR or other known mobile telecommunications standards. However, it will also be appreciated that each of the core network component, base stations and communications devices of a new RAT network will be functionally similar to, respectively, the core network component, base stations and communications devices of an LTE or NR wireless communications network.

[0036] In terms of broad top-level functionality, the core network 20 connected to the new RAT telecommunications system represented in Figure 2 may be broadly considered to correspond with the core network 2 represented in Figure 1, and the respective central units 40 and their associated distributed units / TRPs 10 may be broadly considered to provide at least some of the functionality corresponding to the base stations 1 of Figure 1. The term network infrastructure equipment / access node may be used to encompass these elements and more conventional base station type elements of wireless telecommunications systems. Depending on the application at hand the responsibility for scheduling transmissions which are scheduled on the radio interface between the respective distributed units and the communications devices may lie with the controlling node / central unit and / or the distributed units / TRPs. A communications device 14 is represented in Figure 2 within the coverage area of the first coverage area 12. This communications device 14 may thus exchange signalling with the first central unit 40 in the first coverage area 12 via one of the distributed units / TRPs 10 associated with the first coverage area 12.

[0037] It will further be appreciated that Figure 2 represents merely one example of a proposed architecture for a new RAT based telecommunications system in which approaches in accordance with the principles described herein may be adopted, and the functionality disclosed herein may also be applied in respect of wireless telecommunications systems having different architectures.

[0038] Thus, certain embodiments of the disclosure as discussed herein may be implemented in wireless telecommunication systems / networks according to various different architectures, such as the example architectures shown in Figures 1 and 2. It will thus be appreciated the specific wireless telecommunications architecture in any given implementation is not of primary significance to the principles described herein. In this regard, certain embodiments of the disclosure may be described generally in the context of communications between network infrastructure equipment / access nodes and a communications device, wherein the specific nature of the network infrastructure equipment / access node and the communications device will depend on the network infrastructure for the implementation at hand. For example, in some scenarios the network infrastructure equipment / access node may comprise a base station, such as an LTE-type base station 1 as shown in Figure 1 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, and in other examples the network infrastructure equipment may comprise a control unit / controlling node 40 and / or a TRP 10 of the kind shown in Figure 2 which is adapted to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 5

[0039] A more detailed diagram of some of the components of the network shown in Figure 2 is provided by Figure 3. In Figure 3, a TRP 10 as shown in Figure 2 comprises, as a simplified representation, a wireless transmitter 30, a wireless receiver 32 and a controller or controlling processor 34 which may operate to control the transmitter 30 and the wireless receiver 32 to transmit and receive radio signals to one or more UEs 14 within a coverage area 12 formed by the TRP 10. As shown in Figure 3, an example UE 14 is shown to include a corresponding transmitter 49, a receiver 48 and a controller 44 which is configured to control the transmitter 49 and the receiver 48 to transmit signals representing uplink data to the wireless communications network via the wireless access interface formed by the TRP 10 and to receive downlink data as signals transmitted by the transmitter 30 and received by the receiver 48 in accordance with the conventional operation.

[0040] The transmitters 30, 49 and the receivers 32, 48 (as well as other transmitters, receivers and transceivers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may include radio frequency filters and amplifiers as well as signal processing components and devices in order to transmit and receive radio signals in accordance for example with the 5G / NR standard. The controllers 34, 44 (as well as other controllers described in relation to examples and embodiments of the present disclosure) may be, for example, a microprocessor, a CPU, or a dedicated chipset, etc., configured to carry out instructions which are stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-volatile memory. The processing steps described herein may be carried out by, for example, a microprocessor in conjunction with a random access memory, operating according to instructions stored on a computer readable medium. The transmitters, the receivers and the controllers are schematically shown in Figure 3 as separate elements for ease of representation. However, it will be appreciated that the functionality of these elements can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s), or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s). As will be appreciated the infrastructure equipment / TRP / base station as well as the UE / communications device will in general comprise various other elements associated with its operating functionality.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3, the TRP 10 also includes a network interface 50 which connects to the DU 42 via a physical interface 16. The network interface 50 therefore provides a communication link for data and signalling traffic from the TRP 10 via the DU 42 and the CU 40 to the core network 20.

[0042] The interface 46 between the DU 42 and the CU 40 is known as the Fl interface which can be a physical or a logical interface. The Fl interface 46 between CU and DU may operate in accordance with specifications 3GPP TS 38.470, 3GPP TS 38.473 and 3GPP TS 38.401, and may be formed from a fibre optic or other wired or wireless high bandwidth connection. In one example the connection 16 from the TRP 10 to the DU 42 is via fibre optic. The connection between a TRP 10 and the core network 20 can be generally referred to as a backhaul, which comprises the interface 16 from the network interface 50 of the TRP 10 to the DU 42 and the Fl interface 46 from the DU 42 to the CU 40. The core network 20 is connected to the CU 40 via the N2 (also called NG-C) interface for carrying control data and via the N3 (also called NG-U) interface for carrying user data.

[0043] The core network 20 may comprise core network functions such as a location management function (LMF) for managing a position of communications devices in the wireless communications network. In addition, the core network 20 may comprise one or more network functions for Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI / ML) model management, training, and storage.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 6

[0044] Although reference has been made above to 4G / LTE and 5G NR, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is applicable to future generations of wireless communications technology including 6G. In the case of 6G, base station, which are an example of network infrastructure equipment, may also referred to as 6G NB (6G Node B), 6G RAN node, and so forth. In 6G, the core network 20 may be one or more network functions.

[0045] UE Assistance Information

[0046] In [2], UE assistance information (UAI) has been specified to provide UE specific information to the network via RRC signalling, if configured by the network. UAI may be used by the network to make informed decisions about the UE, such as which radio resources to allocate to the communications device. An example of a UE providing a network with UAI is shown in Figure 4, which has been reproduced from [2] . In step 406, a UE 402 and network 404 exchange Radio Resource Control (RRC) signalling such that the UE 402 is configured with an RRC configuration. Then, the UE 402 transmits UAI to the network 404 as an RRC signal.

[0047] Currently, the UAI 408 may include one or more pieces of information from the following list (which is reproduced from [2]):

[0048] The UE’s delay budget report carrying desired increment / decrement in the connected mode DRX cycle length; or

[0049] - The UE’s overheating assistance information; or

[0050] - The UE’s IDC assistance information; or

[0051] - The UE’s preference on DRX parameters for power saving; or

[0052] - The UE’s preference on the maximum aggregated bandwidth for power saving; or

[0053] - The UE’s preference on the maximum number of secondary component carriers for power saving; or

[0054] - The UE’s preference on the maximum number of MIMO layers for power saving; or

[0055] - The UE’s preference on the minimum scheduling offset for cross-slot scheduling for power saving; or

[0056] - The UE’s preference on the RRC state; or

[0057] - configured grant assistance information for NR sidelink communication; or

[0058] - The UE’s preference in being provisioned with reference time information; or

[0059] - The UE’s preference for FR2 UL gap; or

[0060] - The UE’s preference to transition out of RRC CONNECTED state for MUSIM operation; or - The UE’s preference on the MUSIM gaps; or

[0061] - The UE’s preference on the MUSIM gap priority; or

[0062] - The UE’s preference on the MUSIM temporary capability restriction; or

[0063] - The UE’s relaxation state for RLM measurements; or

[0064] - The UE’s relaxation state for BFD measurements; or

[0065] - availability of data and / or signalling mapped to radio bearers which are not configured for SDT; orP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 7

[0066] The UE’s preference for the SCGto be deactivated; or

[0067] - availability of uplink data to transmit for a DRB for which there is no MCG RLC bearer while the SCG is deactivated; or

[0068] - change of its fulfilment status for RRM measurement relaxation criterion; or

[0069] - service link (specified in TS 38.300 [2]) propagation delay difference between serving cell and neighbour cell(s); or

[0070] - its preference on multi-Rx operation for FR2; or

[0071] - availability of flight path information for Aerial UE operation; or

[0072] - UL traffic information; or

[0073] - the information of the relay UE(s) with which it connects via a non-3GPP connection for MP; or - configured grant assistance information for NR sidelink positioning.

[0074] The present inventors have recognised that, with the introduction of new features in wireless communications networks, such as network energy saving (NES), and Artificial Intelligence (Al) / Machine Learning (ML), and with the introduction of incentives for network operators and users to provide more sustainable wireless communications networks, there is a need to provide enhanced assistance information as explained in more detail below.

[0075] Sustainable Communications

[0076] As mentioned above, there is interest in providing more sustainable wireless communications networks. In particular, there is interest in utilising communications nodes which are sustainable in preference to communications nodes which are not sustainable. A sustainable communications node may be a communications node powered by a renewable power source; a communications node which can support one or more network energy saving features; or a communications node which satisfies an energy efficiency condition, for example. For example, it may be preferred to use one or more of:

[0077] — UE’s powered by renewable power sources (such as solar panels),

[0078] — Infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network powered by renewable power sources (such as windmills or hydroelectric power sources), and

[0079] — Servers powered by renewable power sources (such as windmills or hydroelectric power sources).

[0080] To this end, incentives may be provided to network operators and users of UEs to use more sustainable wireless communications networks. For example, the network operator may provide users of UEs with lower priced contracts.

[0081] As an example, in accordance with an incentive provided by a network operator, a UE may prefer to use a sustainable communications route for communications with the wireless communications network (as used herein, a sustainable communications route is a communications route which comprises at least one sustainable communications node). In one example, the UE may prefer to use infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network which is powered by a renewable power source to communicate with the wireless communications network. However, the infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network currently providing a serving cell for the UE may not be powered by a renewable power source. There may be a neighbouring cell provided by infrastructure equipment powered by a renewable power source. However, since current handover protocols are based on radio linkP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 8

[0082] quality, the UE may remain connected to the serving cell rather than handing over to the neighbouring cell, despite the UE’s preference to be served by infrastructure equipment powered by a renewable power source (the UE may prefer to use the neighbouring cell even if it has a lower radio link quality because the neighbouring infrastructure equipment is powered by a renewable power source). Thus, in existing systems, the UE’s preference to be served by infrastructure equipment powered by a renewable power source may not be able to be satisfied.

[0083] In some cases, the UE may prefer to receive a service from a server using a sustainable communications route even if the Quality of Service (QoS) is lower on the sustainable communications route compared with another communications route to the server.

[0084] In existing systems, the wireless communications network is unaware of any preference a UE may have regarding sustainable communications routes. Consequently, the network may make decisions without taking into account the user’s preference which may lead to poor user experience. In addition, communications routes with communications nodes powered by non-renewable power sources may be selected with increased frequency, resulting in increased pollution.

[0085] Al Models

[0086] As mentioned above, among the new features being introduced in wireless communications networks is the use of an Al model to perform a task. The task may be a positioning task for positioning the communications device 601, a beam management task, a channel state information (CSI) measurement and reporting task, a CSI compression task, a CSI prediction task, and / or a predicting mobility measurements task for example. The Al model may be a machine learning model in which case the Al model may be referred to as an “AI / ML model”. Although the term “AI / ML model” will be used throughout this disclosure, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure also applies to Al models which do not use machine learning.

[0087] An Al model may utilise one or more of supervised learning, generative Al Autoencoding, and reinforcement learning, which are discussed further in the Appendix. However, it will be appreciated that any other Al model may be used to perform a task.

[0088] 3GPP has identified a general AI / ML framework for the NR air interface to facilitate different radio frequency tasks such as positioning, beam management and CSI feedback. The aim of the framework is to cover a general architecture addressing the whole Al model life cycle, Life Cycle Management, (LCM), including such as data collection, model training, etc. LCM for AI / ML for NR air interface is described in the below. The following description is also applicable to 6G.

[0089] An example of a life cycle management (LCM) architecture for an artificial intelligence model is schematically illustrated in Figure 5 which has been reproduced from [4], the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. As shown in Figure 5, LCM architecture comprises a data collection function 502, an inference function 504, a management function 506, a model training function 508 and a model storage function 510.

[0090] The data collection function 502 is configured to provide training data to the model training function 508, to provide monitoring data to the management function 506 and to provide inference data to the inference function 504. Data collection function 502 is a process / function of collecting data by the network nodes, management entity, or UE for the purpose of AI / ML model training, data analytics and inference.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 9

[0091] The inference function 504 is configured to provide an inference output to the management function 506, to receive a management instruction from the management function 506 and to receive a model from the model storage function 510. The inference function 504 is a process / function of using a trained AI / ML model to produce a set of outputs based on a set of inputs.

[0092] The management function is configured to provide performance feedback and / a retraining request to the model training function 508, and to provide a model delivery request to the model storage unit 510. The model training function 508 is configured to provide an updated model to the model storage unit 510. The model training function 508 is a process / function to train an AI / ML Model (e.g., by learning the input / output relationship) in a data driven manner and obtain the trained AI / ML Model for inference. As shown in Figure 5, the management function 506 represents the core of the LCM architecture. The function of the management function 506 is to monitor model performance at different entities (such as UEs or gNBs) and request delivery of updated models. Model management comprises two procedures -model switching and model updating.

[0093] The functions represented in Figure 5 may be performed by infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, or a communications device, or some of the functions are performed by the infrastructure equipment and the other functions are performed by the communications device. In some scenarios, other components of the wireless communications network may perform at least some of the functions.

[0094] Figure 6 is reproduced from [5] and illustrates an agreed LCM procedure.

[0095] In step 1, network 404 transmits a UECapabilityEnquiry message to a UE 402 to initiate a procedure in which the UE 402 reports its supported AI / ML functionalities.

[0096] In step 2, the UE 402 transmits a UECapablitylnformation message to the network 404. The UECapablity Information message comprises the AI / ML functionalities supported by the UE 402.

[0097] In step 3, the network 404 transmits an RRC Reconfiguration message to the UE 402.

[0098] In step 4, the UE 402 reports applicable AI / ML functionality to the network 404.

[0099] In step 5, the network 404 may transmit an RRC Reconfiguration message to the UE 402.

[0100] In step 6, AI / ML model activation, deactivation, inference and / or monitoring may be performed.

[0101] Further details of the agreed LCM described with reference to Figure 6 can be found [5], the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0102] The present inventors have recognised that a communications device such as a UE may have a preference regarding Al functionality for performing a task. An example of AI / ML functionality is the use of an Al model to perform a particular task. Therefore, the present inventors have recognised that in some situations a communications device may have a preference regarding an Al model to perform the task. For example, the present inventors have recognised that, in situations where there are poor radio conditions, a communications device may prefer to use an Al model for performing a task which has beenP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 10

[0103] trained using less training data to reduce the amount of the training data the communications or network needs to collect in the poor radio conditions. The present inventors have also recognised that a communications device may prefer to use an Al model which has been trained using less training data, or which has an increased inference latency, to reduce energy consumption of the communications device and / or network.

[0104] In existing systems, the wireless communications network is unaware of any preference a UE may have regarding an Al functionality for performing a task. Consequently, the network may make decisions without taking into account the user’s preference which may lead to poor user experience and increased energy consumption. For example, a UE may use a first Al model to perform a task. As will be appreciated, the task may be a positioning for determining a position of the UE, a beam management task, a channel state information (CSI) measurement and reporting task, a CSI prediction task, or a CSI compression task, or a predicting of mobility measurements task, for example. Data collection for training the first Al model may be performed by the UE and / or infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network. The training of the first Al model may be performed by the UE and / or the infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network. In some circumstances, the first Al model may no longer be suitable to perform the task. For example, the first Al model may be a highly accurate model with low inference latency which requires a large amount of training data. The first Al model may be trained by the infrastructure equipment and / or the UE. The inference and / or training of the first Al model may therefore have a high energy cost at the UE and / or the infrastructure equipment. The UE and / or the infrastructure equipment may be powered by non-renewable power sources. The UE may have a preference to use a second Al model to perform the task which, for example, has a higher inference latency and / or requires less training data. Therefore, the inference and / or training of the second Al model may have a lower energy cost at the UE and / or the infrastructure equipment. The accuracy and / or inference latency of the second Al model may nevertheless be sufficiently high to perform the task. In existing systems, there is no mechanism for the UE to switch between Al models for performing the task.

[0105] Accordingly, the present inventors have recognised that communications devices may have preferences regarding sustainable communications routes and Al functionality. Furthermore, these preferences may change dynamically over time. However, existing networks are not aware of any preference of a communications device regarding sustainable communications routes or Al functionality for performing a task, and the network is therefore not able to make decisions taking into account such communications device preferences. Thus, there is a need for improved communications devices, infrastructure equipment and methods which mitigate the above issues.

[0106] Enhanced Assistance Information

[0107] In view of the above, there is provided a method of operating a communications device as illustrated in Figure 7. The method starts in step S702. The communications device may be a UE for example.

[0108] In step S704, the method comprises transmitting assistance information to infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network.

[0109] The assistance information comprises at least one of:

[0110] — a sustainability indication indicating that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainableP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 11

[0111] communications route. The sustainable communications route is a communications route comprising at least one sustainable communications node; and

[0112] — an Artificial Intelligence (Al) switch indication indicating that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Al functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task.

[0113] In other words, the assistance information comprises the sustainability indication and / or the Al switch indication.

[0114] In some embodiments, the enhanced assistance information is transmitted in at least one selected from the list consisting of: a Radio Resource Control (RRC) signal, User Equipment Assistance information (UAI), a Medium Access Control Control Element (MAC CE), an LI signal and / or Uplink Control Information (UCI). Transmitting the enhanced assistance information in UAI means the enhanced assistance information can be transmitted along with conventional assistance information (e.g UAI 408), thus increasing communications efficiency by reducing the number of signals needed to convey assistance information. Transmitting the enhanced assistance information in a lower layer signal such as MAC CE or LI signal means the signal can be rapidly transmitted, thus increasing the speed of communicating the enhanced assistance information.

[0115] Assistance information which comprises the sustainability indication and / or the Al switch indication may be referred to herein as “enhanced assistance information”.

[0116] A sustainable communications node has a sustainability type. An example of a sustainability type is a communications node powered by a renewable power source (a first sustainability type). Another example of a sustainability type is a communications node which can support one or more network energy saving features (a second sustainability type). Another example of a sustainability type is a communications node which is satisfies an energy efficiency condition (a third sustainability type). In some embodiments, the sustainability indication indicates at least one preferred sustainability type of the at least one sustainable communications node. For example, the sustainability indication may indicate that the communications device prefers a sustainable communications route comprising a communications node of the first sustainability type. In another example, the sustainability indication may indicate that the communications device prefers a sustainable communications route comprising a communications node of the second sustainability type. In another example, the sustainability indication may indicate that the communications device prefers a sustainable communications route comprising a communications node of the third sustainability type. In some embodiments, the sustainability indication may indicate a plurality of preferred sustainability types e.g. the first sustainability type and the second sustainability type, the first sustainability type and the third sustainability type or the second sustainability type and the third sustainability type.

[0117] In some embodiments, only communications nodes of the first sustainability type are regarded as sustainable communications nodes. In some embodiments, only communications nodes of the second sustainability type are regarded as sustainable communications nodes. In some embodiments, only communications nodes of the third sustainability type are regarded as sustainable communications nodes. In some embodiments, only communications nodes of the first sustainability type and second sustainability type are regarded as sustainable communications nodes. In some embodiments, only communications nodes of the first sustainability type and third sustainability type are regarded as sustainable communications nodes. In some embodiments, only communications nodes of the second sustainability type and third sustainability type are regarded as sustainable communications nodes. InP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 12

[0118] some embodiments, only communications nodes of the first sustainability type, second sustainability type and third sustainability type are regarded as sustainable communications nodes.

[0119] Renewable power sources may include one or more solar panels, a hydroelectric power source, one or more windmills, and the like as will be understood by the skilled person.

[0120] Examples of network energy saving features may include the ability to transmit on-demand system information block type 1 (SIB 1), the ability to transmit on-demand synchronisation signal block (SSB), the ability to perform adaptive cell DTX (Discontinuous Transmission) / DRX (Discontinuous Reception), or the ability to perform conditional handover based on energy saving.

[0121] An example of an energy efficiency condition is that the sustainable communications node must be more energy efficient than a communications node in a current communications route used by the communications device for communicating with the wireless communications network.

[0122] In some embodiments, the sustainability indication indicates at least one preferred node type of the at least one sustainable communications node. The at least one preferred node type may include one or more from the following list:

[0123] — The communications device (first node type). For example, in a case where the communications device is configured to be powered by a renewable power source such as one or more solar panels.

[0124] — One or more other communications devices (second node type). For example, the one or more other communications device may be relay communications devices for relaying communications to and / or from the communications device.

[0125] — Infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network (such as a gNB) (third node type). This may be the infrastructure equipment which receives the assistance information and / or other infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network (e.g. a gNB of a neighbouring cell).

[0126] — A server (fourth node type) providing service to the communications device.

[0127] It will be appreciated that the above list of communication nodes is not exhaustive and the at least one preferred node type may comprise one or more other types of communications node.

[0128] In some embodiments, the sustainability indication comprises an indication of both the preferred sustainability type and the preferred node type.

[0129] In some embodiments, the infrastructure equipment may determine that a current communications route used by the communications device for communicating with the wireless communications network is not a sustainable communications route. In such embodiments, the infrastructure equipment may determine a sustainable communications route for the communications device. For example, the infrastructure equipment may determine that other infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network is a sustainable communications node because it is powered by a renewable power source. Accordingly, the infrastructure equipment determines a sustainable communications route which includes the other infrastructure equipment. Then the infrastructure equipment may transmit an indication of the sustainable communications route to the communications device. For example, the infrastructure equipment may transmit, to the communications device, an instruction to handover to the other infrastructure equipment (for example, in a handover command). This may occur, for example, even if the radio quality of a cell provided by the infrastructure equipment which receives the assistance information is acceptable or evenP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 13

[0130] if the radio quality of that cell is higher than the radio quality of a cell provided by the other infrastructure equipment.

[0131] In some embodiments, the instruction to handover to the other infrastructure equipment may be a conditional instruction. For example, the conditional instruction may indicate that the communications device should handover to the other infrastructure equipment if the communications device measures that a signal quality (e.g. a reference signal received power (RSRP)) of the other infrastructure equipment is above a threshold. In another example, the conditional instruction may indicate that the communications device is only permitted to handover to the other infrastructure equipment during a specified time period (e.g. during non-peak times).

[0132] In another example, the infrastructure equipment may determine that it is a sustainable communications node because it is powered by a renewable power source. In such cases, the infrastructure equipment may allocate radio resources for the communications device to use to communicate with the infrastructure equipment and transmit an indication of the allocated radio resources to the communications device. For example, the infrastructure equipment may indicate the allocated radio resources in a configured grant. In some embodiments, the infrastructure equipment may alter its transmission power to the communications device based on the determination that it is powered by the renewable power source. For example, the infrastructure equipment may increase the transmission power.

[0133] In another example, the infrastructure equipment may re-route communications between the communications device and a server which is not a sustainable communications node in the current communications route to a different server which is a sustainable communications node in the sustainable communications route. For example, the infrastructure equipment may re-route communications between the communications device and a server powered by a non-renewable power source in the current communications route to a different server which is powered by a renewable power source in the sustainable communications route.

[0134] In some embodiments, the infrastructure equipment may determine that a current communications route used by the communications device for communicating with the wireless communications network does not comprise a communications node of the preferred node type and preferred sustainability type indicated by the sustainability indication. In such embodiments, the infrastructure equipment may determine a sustainable communications route for the communications device which comprises a communications node of the preferred node type and preferred sustainability type. For example, in a case where the preferred node type is infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network and the preferred sustainability type is a communications node powered by a renewable power source, the infrastructure equipment which receives the assistance information may determine that other infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network is powered by a renewable power source. Accordingly, the infrastructure equipment determines a sustainable communications route which includes the other infrastructure equipment. Then the infrastructure equipment may transmit an indication of the sustainable communications route to the communications device. For example, the infrastructure equipment may transmit, to the communications device, an instruction to handover to the other infrastructure equipment (for example, in a handover command). This may occur, for example, even if the radio quality of a cell provided by the infrastructure equipment which receives the assistance information is acceptable or even if the radio quality of that cell is higher than the radio quality of a cell provided by the other infrastructure equipment.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 14

[0135] In some embodiments, the instruction to handover to the other infrastructure equipment may be a conditional instruction. For example, the conditional instruction may indicate that the communications device should handover to the other infrastructure equipment if the communications device measures that a signal quality (e.g. a reference signal received power (RSRP)) of the other infrastructure equipment is above a threshold. In another example, the conditional instruction may indicate that the communications device is only permitted to handover to the other infrastructure equipment during a specified time period (e.g. during non-peak times).

[0136] In another example, the infrastructure equipment may determine that it is a communications node of the preferred node type and the preferred sustainability type because it is infrastructure equipment powered by a renewable power source. In such cases, the infrastructure equipment may allocate radio resources for the communications device to use to communicate with the infrastructure equipment and transmit an indication of the allocated radio resources to the communications device. For example, the infrastructure equipment may indicate the allocated radio resources in a configured grant. In some embodiments, the infrastructure equipment may alter its transmission power to the communications device based on the determination that it is powered by the renewable power source. For example, the infrastructure equipment may increase the transmission power.

[0137] In another example, where the preferred node type is a server and the preferred sustainability type is a communication node powered by a renewable power source, the infrastructure equipment may re-route communications between the communications device and a server powered by a non-renewable power source in the current communications route to a different server which is powered by a renewable power source in the sustainable communications route.

[0138] In some embodiments, the sustainability indication identifies which communications node it prefers to be powered by the renewable power source. For example, the sustainability indication may identify the communications device as the communications node it prefers to be a sustainable communications node. In some embodiments, the sustainability indication may also indicate that the communications device prefers that the communications device is powered by a renewable power source. In such cases, the communications device may be powered by a renewable power source such as solar panels. For example, the communications device may be configured to switch between using a battery and / or using solar panels for powering the communications device. In response, the infrastructure equipment may allocate radio resources for communication with the communications device based on this preference. For example, the solar panels may provide a lower power than a non-renewable energy source such as a battery, and thus the infrastructure equipment may allocate less frequent radio resources for the communications device powered by the solar panels.

[0139] In some embodiments, the sustainability indication indicates a preferred ratio for the number of sustainable communications nodes in the sustainable communications route compared with the number of non-sustainable communications nodes in the sustainable communications route. Non-sustainable communications nodes are communications nodes which are not sustainable (e.g. such nodes may not belong do any of the sustainability types mentioned herein). In some embodiments, the preferred ratio is the number of sustainable communications nodes of the preferred sustainability and / or node type compared with communications nodes which are not of the preferred sustainability and / or node type. In one example, the preferred ratio is the number of communications nodes in the sustainable communications route which are powered by renewable power sources compared to the number of communications nodes in the sustainable communications route which are powered by non-renewableP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 15

[0140] power sources. The infrastructure equipment may determine the sustainable communications route for the communications device based on the indication of the preferred ratio.

[0141] For ease of explanation, embodiments may be described herein with reference to a particular sustainability type (e.g. communication nodes powered by renewable power sources) and / or node type but it will be appreciated that such embodiments also apply to sustainable communications nodes with a different sustainability type and / or node type.

[0142] Although reference has been made above to the infrastructure equipment performing various “determining” steps, it will be appreciated that such steps may be performed by other components of the wireless communications network or the communications device.

[0143] In some embodiments, the sustainability indication indicates a preferred minimum number of communications node in the sustainable communications route which are sustainable communications nodes. In some embodiments, the preferred minimum number is a preferred minimum number of communications nodes of the preferred node type and / or sustainability type. For example, the preferred minimum number may indicate a minimum number of communications nodes powered by renewable power sources.

[0144] In some embodiments, the sustainability indication indicates that the communications device prefers to communicate using the sustainable communications route even if a lower Quality of Service (QoS) is provided on the sustainable communications route as compared to another communications route which the communications device could use for communicating with the wireless communications network. The other communications route may be a current communications route used by the communications device for communicating with the wireless communications network.

[0145] Al functionality to perform a task may refer to the Al model to perform the task. For example, in some embodiments, the Al switch indication indicating that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Al functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task indicates that the communications device prefers to switch from using a first Al model to perform a task to using a second Al model to perform the task.

[0146] The first Al model and the second Al model are different. For example, the first Al model and the second Al model may differ in respect of at least one of: the type of Al model they are (supervised learning, generative Al Autoencoding, and reinforcement learning), how much training data is used to train the Al model, the inference latency of the Al model, the accuracy of the Al model, the weights of the Al model and so on.

[0147] Data collection, inference, monitoring, training, storing, and management of the first Al model and / or the second Al model may be performed by the communications device and / or the infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network.

[0148] In some embodiments, the Al switch indication identifies the second Al model. For example, the Al switch indication may comprise an identity of the second Al model.

[0149] In some embodiments, the second Al model is trained using less training data than the first Al model. This recognises that using less training data may reduce energy consumption. Furthermore, in some scenarios, such as when the communications device performs the training of the first Al model andP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 16

[0150] second Al model and the first Al model requires a larger amount of training data than the second Al model, it may be inefficient or impractical for the communications device to obtain the training data for the first Al model, particularly when the communications device is in poor radio conditions. In such scenarios, it is advantageous to use the second Al model which requires less training data.

[0151] In some embodiments, the second Al model has an increased inference latency compared to the first Al model. This recognises that having an increased inference latency may use less energy.

[0152] In some embodiments, the task performed by the first Al model is a positioning task for determining a position of the communications device, or a beam management task or a channel state information (CSI) measurement and reporting task, a CSI prediction task, a CSI compression task, or a predicting mobility measurements task.

[0153] In some embodiments, in response to receiving the Al switch indication, the infrastructure equipment transmits a trained version of second Al model to the communications device (where the training of the second Al model may have been performed by the infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network). In some embodiments, the infrastructure equipment transmits an indication to the communications device indicating that the communications device is permitted to train and use the second Al model to perform the task.

[0154] In some embodiments, the first Al functionality and second Al functionality are different functionalities associated with the same Al model. For example, the first Al functionality may refer to an Al model to perform a task and a first condition to be met for using the Al model to perform the task. The second Al functionality may refer to the Al model and a second condition to be met for using the Al model to perform the task. In such embodiments, the Al switch indication indicates that the communications device prefers for the second condition, rather than the first condition, to be the condition to be met for the communications device to use the Al model. For example, the second condition may be that the communications device uses the Al model to perform the task if the cell in which the communications device is located is a macro cell. In a case where the Al model works better in the macro cell compared with a small cell or pico cell, the communications device prefers to switch to using the second condition as the condition to be met for using the Al model to perform the task. In another example, the second condition may be that the communications device or infrastructure equipment (such as a base station) via which the communications device communicates with the wireless communications network has a particular angle, or angular range, of antenna tilt. In another example, the second condition may be that the communications device or infrastructure equipment (such as a base station) via which the communications device communicates with the wireless communications network has an antenna height above (or in other embodiments, below) a predefined threshold. In another example, the second condition may be that the communications device has an amount of memory or battery above a predefined threshold.

[0155] In some embodiments, the switching of the first Al functionality to the second Al functionality comprises switching from using a first Al model associated with a first condition to perform the task to using a second Al model associated with a second condition to perform the task. In such embodiments, the first condition is a condition which, if met, the communications device uses the first Al model to perform the task. In such embodiments, the second condition is a condition which, if met, the communications device uses the second Al model to perform the task.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 17

[0156] In some embodiments, the sustainability indication and / or the Al switch indication may be represented by a unique number (e.g. 00, 01, 02, ...99). The numbers may correspond to entries in atable. For example, the infrastructure equipment may be preconfigured to know that, if the communications device transmits “00”, then the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route and / or the infrastructure equipment may be preconfigured to know that, if the communications device transmits “01”, then the communications device prefers to switch from using a first Al model to perform a task to using a second Al model to perform the task. By using a number to indicate assistance information, signaling overhead can be reduced.

[0157] In some embodiments, in response to receiving the Al switch indication, the infrastructure equipment may determine whether or not it supports the communications device the use of the second Al model to perform the task. The infrastructure equipment may not support the communications device using the second Al model to perform the task. For example, the infrastructure equipment may not be able to obtain required training data and / or not be able to perform the required training of the second Al model. In one example, the infrastructure equipment provides a small cell / pico cell and the second Al model can be supported in a macro cell but not in a pico cell / small cell. In some embodiments, the communications device may exchange Al capability signaling based on which the infrastructure equipment determines that it cannot support the second Al model. If the infrastructure equipment does not support the communications device using the second Al model to perform the task, the infrastructure equipment may handover the communications device to other infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network which does support the communications device using the second Al model to perform the task (e.g. the infrastructure equipment may transmit a handover command to the communications device). This may occur even if, for example, the radio link between the communications device and the infrastructure equipment is still adequate. In such cases, there may be no measurement report triggering. If the infrastructure equipment does support the communications device using the second Al model to perform the task, the infrastructure equipment may transmit information regarding the second Al model to the communications device. For example, the infrastructure equipment may transmit parameters associated with the second Al model to the communications device. The infrastructure equipment may transmit one or more conditions to the communications to the communications device which must be satisfied before the communications device can use the second Al model to perform the task.

[0158] Although specific examples described herein refer to first Al model and second Al model for ease of explanation, it will be appreciated that this description applies to first Al functionality and second Al functionality more generally (for example first Al functionality and second Al functionality associated with the same Al model).

[0159] In step S706, the method ends.

[0160] By transmitting a sustainability indication in the assistance information, the communications device can make the infrastructure equipment aware that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route. Therefore, the infrastructure equipment can take this preference into account when making decisions about the communications device. Thus, for example, the infrastructure equipment may handover the communications device to other infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, or allocate radio resources for communication with the communications device, based on the sustainability indication. This may lead to improve user experience and reduced environmental impact.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 18

[0161] By transmiting an Al switch indication in the assistance information, the communications device can make the infrastructure equipment aware that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Al functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task. Therefore, the infrastructure equipment can take this preference into account when making decisions about the communications device. Thus, for example, the infrastructure equipment may handover the communications device to other infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, or allocate radio resources for communication with the communications device, based on the Al switch indication. This may lead to improve user experience and reduced environmental impact.

[0162] Permission Indication

[0163] Figure 8 schematically illustrates the network 404 (i.e. infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network) providing the UE 402 (i.e. a communications device) with permission to transmit a sustainability indication and / or an Al switch indication in accordance with example embodiments.

[0164] As shown in Figure 8, in step 804, the network 404 transmits a permission indication to the UE 402. The permission indication may indicate that the communications device is permited to transmit the sustainability indication to the network 404 and / or indicate that the communications device is permited to transmit the Al switch indication to the network 404.

[0165] In step 806, the UE 402 transmits the sustainability indication and / or the Al switch indication in accordance with the permission indication. Specifically, if the permission indication indicates the UE 402 has permission to transmit the sustainability indication, then the UE 402 transmits the sustainability indication to the network 404. If the permission indication indicates the UE 402 has permission to transmit the Al switch indication, then the UE 402 transmits the Al switch indication to the network 404. If the permission indication indicates the UE 402 has permission to transmit both the sustainability indication and the Al switch indication, then the UE 402 transmits both the sustainability indication and the Al switch indication to the network 404.

[0166] Request for Permission

[0167] Figure 9 schematically illustrates the network 404 providing the UE 402 with permission to transmit a sustainability indication and / or an Al switch indication in response to a request from the UE 402 in accordance with example embodiments.

[0168] As shown in Figure 9, in step 802, the UE 402 transmits, to the network 404, a request for permission to transmit the sustainability indication to the network 404 and / or a request to transmit the Al switch indication to the network 404. In some embodiments, the request for permission is transmited in at least one selected from the list consisting of: a Radio Resource Control (RRC) signal, a Medium Access Control Control Element (MAC CE), and an LI signal.

[0169] The request may comprise an indication of the type of assistance information being requested to transmit (e.g. an indication of whether the request is for permission to transmit the sustainability indication and / or for permission to transmit the Al switch indication).

[0170] The request may comprise an indication of the priority of the request. The indication of the priority of the request may be an implicit or explicit indication. An example of an implicit indication of priority is transmiting the request on configured grant resources.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 19

[0171] In step 804, the network 404 transmits a permission indication to the UE 402. The permission indication may indicate that the communications device is permitted to transmit the sustainability indication to the network 404 and / or indicate that the communications device is permitted to transmit the Al switch indication to the network 404.

[0172] In step 806, the UE 402 transmits the sustainability indication and / or the Al switch indication in accordance with the permission indication. Specifically, if the permission indication indicates the UE 402 has permission to transmit the sustainability indication, then the UE 402 transmits the sustainability indication to the network 404. If the permission indication indicates the UE 402 has permission to transmit the Al switch indication, then the UE 402 transmits the Al switch indication to the network 404. If the permission indication indicates the UE 402 has permission to transmit both the sustainability indication and the Al switch indication, then the UE 402 transmits both the sustainability indication and the Al switch indication to the network 404.

[0173] Those skilled in the art would further appreciate that such infrastructure equipment and / or communications devices as herein defined may be further defined in accordance with the various arrangements and embodiments discussed in the preceding paragraphs. It would be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that such infrastructure equipment and communications devices as herein defined and described may form part of communications systems other than those defined by the present disclosure.

[0174] The following numbered paragraphs provide further example aspects and features of the present technique:

[0175] Paragraph 1. A method of operating a communications device, the method comprising transmitting assistance information to infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, wherein the assistance information comprises at least one of:

[0176] a sustainability indication indicating that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route,

[0177] wherein the sustainable communications route is a communications route comprising at least one sustainable communications node, and

[0178] an Artificial Intelligence (Al) switch indication indicating that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Al functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task.

[0179] Paragraph 2. A method according to paragraph 1, wherein the sustainability indication indicates at least one preferred sustainability type of the at least one sustainable communications node.

[0180] Paragraph 3. A method according to paragraph 2, wherein the at least one preferred sustainability type of the at least one sustainable communications node comprises a communications node powered by a renewable power source.

[0181] Paragraph 4. A method according to paragraph 2 or paragraph 3, wherein the at least one preferred sustainability type of the at least one sustainable communications node comprises a communications node which supports one or more network energy saving features.

[0182] Paragraph 5. A method according to any of paragraphs 2 to 4, wherein the at least one preferred sustainability type of the at least one sustainable communications node comprises a communications node which satisfies an energy efficiency condition.

[0183] Paragraph 6. A method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein the sustainability indication indicates at least one preferred node type of the at least one sustainable communications node.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 20

[0184] Paragraph 7. A method according to paragraph 6. wherein the at least one preferred node type of the at least one sustainable communications node comprises infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network.

[0185] Paragraph 8. A method according to paragraph 6 or paragraph 7, wherein the at least one preferred node type of the at least one sustainable communications node comprises the communications device. Paragraph 9. A method according to any of paragraphs 6 to 8, wherein the at least one preferred node type of the at least one sustainable communications node comprises a server.

[0186] Paragraph 10. A method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein the sustainability indication indicates a preferred ratio for the number of communications nodes in the sustainable communications route which are sustainable communications nodes compared to the number of communications nodes in the sustainable communications route which are non-sustainable communications nodes.

[0187] Paragraph 11. A method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein the sustainability indication indicates that the communications device prefers to communicate using the sustainable communications route even if a lower Quality of Service (QoS) is provided on the sustainable communications route as compared to another communications route which the communications device could use for communicating with the wireless communications network.

[0188] Paragraph 12. A method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein the assistance information is transmitted in at least one selected from the list consisting of: a Radio Resource Control (RRC) signal, User Equipment Assistance information (UAI), a Medium Access Control Control Element (MAC CE), an LI signal and Uplink Control Information (UCI).

[0189] Paragraph 13. A method according to any preceding paragraph, comprising

[0190] receiving, from the infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, a permission indication indicating that the communications device is permitted to transmit the sustainability indication to the infrastructure equipment.

[0191] Paragraph 14. A method according to paragraph 13, wherein the method comprises

[0192] transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, a request for permission to transmit the sustainability indication to the infrastructure equipment.

[0193] Paragraph 15. A method according to paragraph 14, wherein the request for permission is transmitted in at least one selected from the list consisting of: a Radio Resource Control (RRC) signal, a Medium Access Control Control Element (MAC CE), and an LI signal.

[0194] Paragraph 16. A method according to any preceding paragraph, comprising

[0195] receiving, from the infrastructure equipment in response to the sustainability indication, an instruction to handover to another infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, wherein the infrastructure equipment is not comprised in the sustainable communications route and the other infrastructure equipment is comprised in the sustainable communications route.

[0196] Paragraph 17. A method according to paragraph 16, wherein the infrastructure equipment is not a sustainable communications node and the other infrastructure equipment is a sustainable communications node.

[0197] Paragraph 18. A method according to paragraph 16 or paragraph 17, wherein the communications device cannot communicate with a server which is a sustainable communications node via the infrastructure equipment but can communicate with the server via the other infrastructure equipment. Paragraph 19. A method according to any of paragraphs 1 to 15, comprising

[0198] receiving, from the infrastructure equipment in response to the sustainability indication, an allocation of radio resources for the communications device to communicate with the infrastructure equipment, wherein the infrastructure equipment is comprised in the sustainable communications route. Paragraph 20. A method according to paragraph 19, wherein the infrastructure equipment is a sustainable communications node.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 21

[0199] Paragraph 21. A method according to paragraph 19 or paragraph 20, wherein the communications device can communicate with a server which is a sustainable communications node via the infrastructure equipment.

[0200] Paragraph 22. A method according to any preceding paragraph, comprising

[0201] receiving, from the infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, an indication that the communications device is permitted to transmit the Al switch indication to the infrastructure equipment.

[0202] Paragraph 23. A method according to paragraph 22, wherein the method comprises

[0203] transmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, a request for permission to transmit the Al switch indication to the infrastructure equipment.

[0204] Paragraph 24. A method according to paragraph 23, wherein the request for permission is transmitted in at least one selected from the list consisting of: a Radio Resource Control (RRC) signal, a Medium Access Control Control Element (MAC CE), and an LI signal.

[0205] Paragraph 25. A method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein the first Al functionality comprises a first Al model and the second Al functionality comprises a second Al model.

[0206] Paragraph 26. A method according to paragraph 25, wherein the first Al functionality comprises a first condition to be met for the communications device to use the first Al model to perform the task and the second Al functionality comprises a second condition to be met for the communications device to use the second Al model to perform the task.

[0207] Paragraph 27. A method according to paragraph 25 or paragraph 26, wherein the Al switch indication identifies the second Al model.

[0208] Paragraph 28. A method according to any of paragraphs 25 to 27, wherein the second Al model is trained using less training data than the first Al model.

[0209] Paragraph 29. A method according to any of paragraphs 25 to 28, wherein the second Al model has an increased inference latency compared to the first Al model.

[0210] Paragraph 30. A method according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 24, wherein the first Al functionality comprises an Al model and a first condition to be met for the communications device to use the Al model to perform the task and the second Al functionality comprises the Al model and a second condition to be met for the communications device to use the Al model to perform the task.

[0211] Paragraph 31. A method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein the task is a positioning task for determining a position of the communications device, a beam management task, a channel state information (CSI) measurement and reporting task, a CSI prediction task, a CSI compression task, or a predicting mobility measurements task.

[0212] Paragraph 32. A method according to any preceding paragraph, comprising

[0213] receiving, from the infrastructure equipment in response to the Al switch indication, an instruction to handover to another infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, wherein the infrastructure equipment does not support the communications device using the second Al functionality to perform the task and the other infrastructure equipment supports the communications device using the second Al functionality to perform the task.

[0214] Paragraph 33. A method according to any of paragraphs 1 to 31, comprising

[0215] receiving, from the infrastructure equipment in response to the Al switch indication, an allocation of radio resources for the communications device to communicate with the infrastructure equipment, wherein the infrastructure equipment supports the communications device using the second Al functionality to perform the task.

[0216] Paragraph 34. A method according to any preceding paragraph, wherein the sustainability indication and / or the Al indication is represented by a unique number corresponding to an entry in a table known to the infrastructure equipment.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 22

[0217] Paragraph 35. A method of operating infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the method comprising

[0218] receiving assistance information from a communications device, wherein the assistance information comprises at least one of:

[0219] a sustainability indication indicating that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route,

[0220] wherein a sustainable communications route is a communications route comprising at least one sustainable communications node, and

[0221] an Al switch indication indicating that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Artificial Intelligence Model (Al) functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task.

[0222] Paragraph 36. A method according to paragraph 35 comprising

[0223] transmitting, to the communications device in response to the sustainability indication, an instruction to handover to another infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, wherein the infrastructure equipment is not comprised in the sustainable communications route and the other infrastructure equipment is comprised in the sustainable communications route.

[0224] Paragraph 37. A method according to paragraph 36, wherein the infrastructure equipment is not a sustainable communications node and the other infrastructure equipment is a sustainable communications node.

[0225] Paragraph 38. A method according to paragraph 36 or paragraph 37, wherein the communications device cannot communicate with a server which is a sustainable communications node via the infrastructure equipment but can communicate with the server via the other infrastructure equipment. Paragraph 39. A method according to paragraph 35, comprising

[0226] transmitting, to the communications device in response to the sustainability indication, an allocation of radio resources for the communications device to communicate with the infrastructure equipment, wherein the infrastructure equipment is comprised in the sustainable communications route. Paragraph 40. A method according to paragraph 39, wherein the infrastructure equipment is a sustainable communications node.

[0227] Paragraph 41. A method according to paragraph 39 or paragraph 40, wherein the communications device can communicate with a server which is a sustainable communications node via the infrastructure equipment.

[0228] Paragraph 42. A method according to any of paragraphs 35 to 41, comprising

[0229] transmitting, to the communications device in response to the Al switch indication, an instruction to handover to another infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, wherein the infrastructure equipment does not support the communications device using the second Al functionality to perform the task and the other infrastructure equipment supports the communications device using the second Al functionality to perform the task.

[0230] Paragraph 43. A method according to any of paragraphs 35 to 41, comprising

[0231] transmitting, to the communications device in response to the Al switch indication, an allocation of radio resources for the communications device to communicate with the infrastructure equipment, wherein the infrastructure equipment supports the communications device using the second Al functionality to perform the task.

[0232] Paragraph 44. A communications device comprising

[0233] a transmitter configured to transmit signals,

[0234] a receiver configured to receive signals, and

[0235] a controller configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to

[0236] transmit assistance information to infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, wherein the assistance information comprises at least one of:P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 23

[0237] a sustainability indication indicating that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route,

[0238] wherein the sustainable communications route is a communications route comprising at least one sustainable communications node, and

[0239] an Artificial Intelligence (Al) switch indication indicating that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Al functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task.

[0240] Paragraph 45. Circuitry for a communications device, the circuitry comprising

[0241] transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals,

[0242] receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, and

[0243] controller circuitry configured in combination with the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to

[0244] transmit assistance information to infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, wherein the assistance information comprises at least one of:

[0245] a sustainability indication indicating that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route,

[0246] wherein the sustainable communications route is a communications route comprising at least one sustainable communications node, and

[0247] an Artificial Intelligence (Al) switch indication indicating that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Al functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task.

[0248] Paragraph 46. Infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprising

[0249] a transmitter configured to transmit signals,

[0250] a receiver configured to receive signals, and

[0251] a controller configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to

[0252] receive assistance information from a communications device, wherein the assistance information comprises at least one of:

[0253] a sustainability indication indicating that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route,

[0254] wherein a sustainable communications route is a communications route comprising at least one sustainable communications node, and

[0255] an Al switch indication indicating that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Artificial Intelligence Model (Al) functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task.

[0256] Paragraph 47. Circuitry for infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the circuitry comprising

[0257] transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals,

[0258] receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, and

[0259] controller circuitry configured in combination with the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry to

[0260] receive assistance information from a communications device, wherein the assistance information comprises at least one of:

[0261] a sustainability indication indicating that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route,

[0262] wherein a sustainable communications route is a communications route comprising at least one sustainable communications node, andP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 24

[0263] an Al switch indication indicating that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Artificial Intelligence Model (Al) functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task.

[0264] Paragraph 48. A computer program which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to

[0265] perform the method any of paragraphs 1 to 43.

[0266] Paragraph 49. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program according to

[0267] paragraph 48.

[0268] Described embodiments may be implemented in any suitable form including hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. Described embodiments may optionally be implemented at least partly as computer software running on one or more data processors and / or digital signal processors. The elements and components of any embodiment may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable way. Indeed, the functionality may be implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as part of other functional units. As such, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in a single unit or may be physically and functionally distributed between different units, circuitry and / or processors. Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognise that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in any manner suitable to implement the technique.

[0269] References

[0270] [1] Holma H. and Toskala A, “LTE for UMTS OFDMA and SC-FDMA based radio access”, John Wiley and Sons, 2009.

[0271] [2] Technical Specification (TS) 38.331, vl8.3.0, September 2024, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

[0272] [3] Technical Specification (TS) 38.300, vl8.2.0, June 2024, 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

[0273] [4] Technical Report (TR) 38.843, vl8.0.0, December 2023, 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP).

[0274] [5] R2-2407902, “Report of 3GPP TSG RAN WG2 meeting #127 Maastricht, Netherlands 19 - 23 August, 2024”, 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP).

[0275] APPENDIX

[0276] Supervised learning

[0277] AI / ML models may implement a supervised machine learning model.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 25

[0278] The supervised learning model is trained using labelled training data to learn a function that maps inputs (typically provided as feature vectors) to outputs (i.e. labels). The labelled training data comprises pairs of inputs and corresponding output labels. The output labels are typically provided by an operator to indicate the desired output for each input. The supervised learning model processes the training data to produce an inferred function that can be used to map new (i.e. unseen) inputs to a label.

[0279] The input data (during training and / or inference) may comprise various types of data, such as numerical values, images, video, text, or audio. Raw input data may be pre-processed to obtain an appropriate feature vector used as input to the model - for example, features of an image or text input may be extracted to obtain a corresponding feature vector. It will be appreciated that the type of input data and techniques for pre-processing of the data (if required) may be selected based on the specific task the supervised learning model is used for.

[0280] Once prepared, the labelled training data set is used to train the supervised learning model. During training the model adjusts its internal parameters (e.g. weights) so as to optimize (e.g. minimize) an error function, aiming to minimize the discrepancy between the model’s predicted outputs and the labels provided as part of the training data. In some cases, the error function may include a regularization penalty to reduce overfitting of the model to the training data set.

[0281] The supervised learning model may use one or more machine learning algorithms in order to learn a mapping between its inputs and outputs. Example suitable learning algorithms include linear regression, logistic regression, artificial neural networks, decision trees, support vector machines (SVM), random forests, and the K-nearest neighbour algorithm.

[0282] For positioning AI / ML models, the input to the supervised learning model may comprise positioning measurements (for example, measurements of one or more PRSs, or one or more SRSs, such as time of arrival and angle of arrival) and the output of the supervised learning model may comprise a position estimate of the communications device or improved positioning measurements.

[0283] Once trained, the supervised learning model may be used for inference - i.e. for predicting outputs for previously unseen input data. The supervised learning model may perform classification and / or regression tasks. In a classification task, the supervised learning model predicts discrete class labels for input data, and / or assigns the input data into predetermined categories. In a regression task, the supervised learning model predicts labels that are continuous values.

[0284] For positioning AI / ML models, the supervised learning model is used to predict an output comprising improved positioning measurements or a position estimate based on an input comprising positioning measurements.

[0285] In some cases, limited amounts of labelled data may be available for training of the model (e.g. because labelling of the data is expensive or impractical). In such cases, the supervised learning model may be extended to further use unlabelled data and / or to generate labelled data.

[0286] Considering using unlabelled data, the training data may comprise both labelled and unlabelled training data, and semi-supervised learning may be used to learn a mapping between the model’s inputs and outputs. For example, a graph-based method such as Laplacian regularization may be used to extend a SVM algorithm to Laplacian SVM in order to perform semi-supervised learning on the partially labelled training data.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 26

[0287] Considering generating labelled data, an active learning model may be used in which the model actively queries an information source (such as a user, or operator) to label data points with the desired outputs. Labels are typically requested for only a subset of the training data set thus reducing the amount of labelling required as compared to fully supervised learning. The model may choose the examples for which labels are requested - for example, the model may request labels for data points that would most change the current model, or that would most reduce the model's generalization error. Semi-supervised learning algorithms may then be used to train the model based on the partially labelled data set.

[0288] Generative Al

[0289] AI / ML models may implement generative artificial intelligence (Al).

[0290] A generative Al system learns patterns and structures in its input training data, in order to then generate new output data which exhibits similar characteristics to the training data. For positioning AI / ML models, the input training data may comprise positioning measurements and the output training data may comprise a position estimate of the communications device or improved positioning measurements. The generative Al system may generate output data based on an input prompt. The prompt may comprise various types of data, such as images, video, text, or audio. The prompt may be of the same or different data type to the model’s training and / or output data.

[0291] The generative AI / ML model may comprise a generative model trained to learn a probability distribution of the input training data, and generate new output data based on this learned distribution. For example, for a set of data instances / observable variables (X) and a set of labels / target variables (Y) in the training data set, the generative model may learn a joint probability distribution of data instances and labels p(X,Y), and / or a probability distribution of the data instances p(X) (for example where no labels are available).

[0292] Example suitable generative models for learning a probability distribution of the input training data include Variational Autoencoders (VAEs), transformer-based models, diffusion models (e.g. denoising diffusion probabilistic models (DDPMs)), Reinforcement Learning (RL), and Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). The choice of generative model may depend on the specific task performed by the generative AI / ML.

[0293] The generative model may comprise one or more artificial neural networks. For example, a Variational Autoencoder (VAE) may comprise a pair of neural networks acting as an encoder and a decoder to and from a reduced (i.e. latent space) representation of the training data respectively, and a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) may comprise a first ‘generator’ neural network that generates new data and a second ‘discriminator’ neural network that learns to discriminate between generated data and real data. The one or more constituent neural networks of the generative model may be trained together or separately.

[0294] During training the generative model may adjust its internal parameters (e.g. neural network weights) so as to optimize (e.g. minimize) a loss / error function, aiming to minimize discrepancy between the generated output data and desired output data. It will be appreciated that the specific loss function, and algorithm used to optimize the function may vary depending on the nature of the generative model, and its intended application. For example, a mean squared error loss function may be used for an imageP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 27

[0295] generation task, and a cross-entropy loss function may be used for a text generation task. These loss functions may be optimized using various existing optimization algorithms, such as gradient descent. Once trained, the generative model may be used to generate new output data based on an input prompt. The input prompt may be provided by a user, or by an appropriate device (e.g. using an application programming interface (API)). Thus, the generative Al / ML model allows generating new based on only a prompt and without requiring detailed instructions for doing so.

[0296] Autoencoders

[0297] AI / ML models may implement Autoencoding.

[0298] An autoencoder is a type of an unsupervised machine learning model that uses one or more artificial neural networks to learn an efficient representation of unlabelled input data. The autoencoder may be used to encode various types of data, such as images, video, text, audio, or positioning measurements. The autoencoder may comprise an encoder neural network that encodes input data into a reduced representation (also called a “latent space”), and a decoder neural network that aims to recreate the input data from the encoded reduced representation. The latent space is typically of a lower-dimension than the input data - thus, the latent space generated by the encoder typically provides a more efficient, compressed representation of the input data that requires less memory storage than the original input data. The encoder neural network may comprise one or more layers that transform input data into a reduced representation. The encoder neural network receives input data, and the final layer of the encoder neural network outputs a reduced representation of the input data, i.e. a latent space (also termed a “bottleneck layer”).

[0299] The decoder neural network comprises one or more layers that transform data from the latent space into output data of the same dimensionality as the data input to the encoder. The decoder aims to reconstruct the data originally input to the encoder neural network from the latent space representation of the data. The encoder and / or decoder neural networks typically comprise a plurality of hidden layers. For example, an encoder may comprise a plurality of hidden layers that progressively extract further reduced representations of the input data. Using deeper neural networks (i.e. with a higher number of hidden layers) for the encoder and / or the decoder may improve performance of the autoencoder, and in some cases may reduce the amount of training data that is required.

[0300] The encoder and decoder neural networks are typically trained together. During training the autoencoder may adjust its internal parameters (e.g. weights and biases of the encoder and decoder neural networks) so as to optimize (e.g. minimize) a loss / error function, aiming to minimize discrepancy between the data input to the encoder and the output reconstructed data generated by the decoder. It will be appreciated that the specific loss function, and algorithm used to optimize the function may vary depending on the nature of the autoencoder model, and its intended application. In an example, a mean squared error loss function optimized using gradient descent may be used. In some cases, a sparse autoencoder may be used in order to promote sparsity of the latent representation (as compared to the input) and to prevent the autoencoder from learning the identity function - for example, a sparse autoencoder may be implemented by modifying the loss function to include a sparsity regularization penalty.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 28

[0301] In some cases, the autoencoder may be a Variational Autoencoder (VAE). The VAE is a specific type of auto-encoder in which a probability model is imposed on the encoded representation by the training process (in that deviations from the probability model are penalised by the training process). The VAE may be used for generative artificial intelligence applications to generate new output data which exhibits similar characteristics to the input encoded data by sampling from the learned latent space.

[0302] For positioning AI / ML models, the input data may comprise positioning measurements and the output data may comprise a position estimate of the communications device or improved positioning measurements.

[0303] Reinforcement learning

[0304] AI / ML models may implement reinforcement learning (RL).

[0305] Reinforcement learning is a type of machine learning directed to training an artificial intelligence agent to take actions in an environment that maximize the notion of a cumulative reward. During reinforcement learning, the agent interacts with the environment, and learns from the results of its actions, thus allowing the agent to progressively improve its decision-making.

[0306] An RL model typically comprises an action-reward feedback loop. The feedback loop comprises: an environment, state, agent, policy, action, and reward. The environment is the system with which the agent interacts and in which the agent operates - for example, the environment may be a virtual environment of a video game. The state represents the current conditions in the environment. The agent receives the state as an input and takes an action which may affect the environment and change the state of the environment. The agent takes the action based on its policy which is a mapping from states of the environment to actions of the agent. The policy may be deterministic or stochastic. The reward represents feedback from the environment to the action taken by the agent. The reward provides an indication (typically in the form of a numerical value) of the desirability of the result of the agent’s action. The reward may comprise positive signals to reward desirable behaviour of the agent and / or negative signals to penalize undesirable behaviour of the agent.

[0307] Through multiple iterations of action-reward feedback loop, the agent aims to maximise the total cumulative reward it receives, thus learning how to take optimal actions in the environment. The reinforcement learning process thus allows the agent to learn an optimal policy that maximizes the cumulative reward. The cumulative award may be estimated using a value function which estimates the expected return starting from a given state or from a given state and action. Using the cumulative reward in the reinforcement learning process allows the agent to consider long-term effects of its policy.

[0308] A reinforcement learning algorithm may be used to refine the agent’s policy and the value function over iterations of the action-reward feedback loop. The learning algorithm may rely on a model of the environment (e.g. based on Markov Decision Processes (MDPs)) or be model-free. Example suitable model-free reinforcement learning algorithms include Q-leaming, SARSA (State-Action-Reward-State-Action), Deep Q-Networks (DQNs), or Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG).

[0309] It will be appreciated that the agent will typically engage in both exploration and exploitation of the environment in which it operates. In exploration, the agent takes typically random actions to gather information about the environment and identify potentially desirable actions (i.e. actions that maximise cumulative reward). In exploitation, the agent takes actions that are expected to maximise reward (e.g. by selecting the action based on the agent’s latest policy). Various techniques may be used to control theP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 29

[0310] proportion of explorative and exploitative actions taken by the agent - for example, a predetermined probability of taking an explorative action in a given iteration of the feedback loop may be set (and optionally reduced over time to allow the agent to shifts more towards exploitation over time to maximise cumulative reward in view of diminishing returns for further exploration).

[0311] In some cases, the RL model may be configured to learn from feedback provided by a user. Utilising user feedback in this way may allow the agent to improve its choice of actions and better align with user preferences. For example, reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) techniques may be used. RLHF includes training a reward model based on user feedback and using this model for determining the reward in the reinforcement learning process described above. The user feedback may be received in various forms depending on the specific reinforcement learning problem being solved - for example, the feedback may be received in the form of a user ranking of instances of the agent’s actions. RLHF thus allows incorporating user feedback into the reinforcement learning process. RLHF approaches may be advantageous where it is easier for a user than for an algorithm to assess the quality of the machine learning model’s output (e.g. for generative artificial intelligence RL models).

[0312] For positioning AI / ML models, the input data may comprise positioning measurements and the output data may comprise a position estimate of the communications device or improved positioning measurements.

[0313] Although a number of types of AI / ML models have been described above in connection with positioning, the above types of a AI / ML can also be used in beam management or CSI tasks, or indeed other tasks known to a person skilled in the art.

[0314] For beam management AI / ML models, input data may comprise one or more of an Ll-RSRP and its associated beam / resource ID. The output data may be one or more of a predicted beam, narrow beam, improved beam prediction or a refined RSRP.

[0315] For CSI AI / ML models (e.g. CSI measurement and reporting, CSI compression or CSI prediction), input data may comprise one or more of a signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) estimation, a Modulation and Coding (MCS) index, Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) index, or a Precoding matrix index (PMI). The output data may be one or more of a refined or predicted MCS, CQI index, PMI index, RI index. In some examples of CSI compression AI / ML models, input data may be a full CSI compression report and output data may be a reduced size CSI compression report.

Claims

P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 30CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a communications device, the method comprisingtransmitting assistance information to infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, wherein the assistance information comprises at least one of:a sustainability indication indicating that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route,wherein the sustainable communications route is a communications route comprising at least one sustainable communications node, andan Artificial Intelligence (Al) switch indication indicating that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Al functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sustainability indication indicates at least one preferred sustainability type of the at least one sustainable communications node.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one preferred sustainability type of the at least one sustainable communications node comprises a communications node powered by a renewable power source.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one preferred sustainability type of the at least one sustainable communications node comprises a communications node which supports one or more network energy saving features.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one preferred sustainability type of the at least one sustainable communications node comprises a communications node which satisfies an energy efficiency condition.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sustainability indication indicates at least one preferred node type of the at least one sustainable communications node.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the at least one preferred node type of the at least one sustainable communications node comprises infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the at least one preferred node type of the at least one sustainable communications node comprises the communications device.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein the at least one preferred node type of the at least one sustainable communications node comprises a server.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sustainability indication indicates a preferred ratio for the number of communications nodes in the sustainable communications route which are sustainable communications nodes compared to the number of communications nodes in the sustainable communications route which are non-sustainable communications nodes.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 3111. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sustainability indication indicates that the communications device prefers to communicate using the sustainable communications route even if a lower Quality of Service (QoS) is provided on the sustainable communications route as compared to another communications route which the communications device could use for communicating with the wireless communications network.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the assistance information is transmitted in at least one selected from the list consisting of: a Radio Resource Control (RRC) signal, User Equipment Assistance information (UAI), a Medium Access Control Control Element (MAC CE), an LI signal and Uplink Control Information (UCI).

13. A method according to claim 1, comprisingreceiving, from the infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, a permission indication indicating that the communications device is permitted to transmit the sustainability indication to the infrastructure equipment.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the method comprisestransmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, a request for permission to transmit the sustainability indication to the infrastructure equipment.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the request for permission is transmitted in at least one selected from the list consisting of: a Radio Resource Control (RRC) signal, a Medium Access Control Control Element (MAC CE), and an LI signal.

16. A method according to claim 1, comprisingreceiving, from the infrastructure equipment in response to the sustainability indication, an instruction to handover to another infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, wherein the infrastructure equipment is not comprised in the sustainable communications route and the other infrastructure equipment is comprised in the sustainable communications route.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the infrastructure equipment is not a sustainable communications node and the other infrastructure equipment is a sustainable communications node.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the communications device cannot communicate with a server which is a sustainable communications node via the infrastructure equipment but can communicate with the server via the other infrastructure equipment.

19. A method according to claim 1, comprisingreceiving, from the infrastructure equipment in response to the sustainability indication, an allocation of radio resources for the communications device to communicate with the infrastructure equipment, wherein the infrastructure equipment is comprised in the sustainable communications route.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the infrastructure equipment is a sustainable communications node.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the communications device can communicate with a server which is a sustainable communications node via the infrastructure equipment.P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 3222. A method according to claim 1, comprisingreceiving, from the infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, an indication that the communications device is permitted to transmit the Al switch indication to the infrastructure equipment.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the method comprisestransmitting, to the infrastructure equipment, a request for permission to transmit the Al switch indication to the infrastructure equipment.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the request for permission is transmitted in at least one selected from the list consisting of: a Radio Resource Control (RRC) signal, a Medium Access Control Control Element (MAC CE), and an LI signal.

25. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first Al functionality comprises a first Al model and the second Al functionality comprises a second Al model.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the first Al functionality comprises a first condition to be met for the communications device to use the first Al model to perform the task and the second Al functionality comprises a second condition to be met for the communications device to use the second Al model to perform the task.

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein the Al switch indication identifies the second Al model.

28. A method according to claim 25, wherein the second Al model is trained using less training data than the first Al model.

29. A method according to claim 25, wherein the second Al model has an increased inference latency compared to the first Al model.

30. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first Al functionality comprises an Al model and a first condition to be met for the communications device to use the Al model to perform the task and the second Al functionality comprises the Al model and a second condition to be met for the communications device to use the Al model to perform the task.

31. A method according to claim 1, wherein the task is a positioning task for determining a position of the communications device, a beam management task, a channel state information (CSI) measurement and reporting task, a CSI prediction task, a CSI compression task, or a predicting mobility measurements task.

32. A method according to claim 1, comprisingreceiving, from the infrastructure equipment in response to the Al switch indication, an instruction to handover to another infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, wherein the infrastructure equipment does not support the communications device using the second Al functionality to perform the task and the other infrastructure equipment supports the communications device using the second Al functionality to perform the task.

33. A method according to claim 1, comprisingP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 33receiving, from the infrastructure equipment in response to the Al switch indication, an allocation of radio resources for the communications device to communicate with the infrastructure equipment, wherein the infrastructure equipment supports the communications device using the second Al functionality to perform the task.

34. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sustainability indication and / or the Al indication is represented by a unique number corresponding to an entry in a table known to the infrastructure equipment.

35. A method of operating infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the method comprisingreceiving assistance information from a communications device, wherein the assistance information comprises at least one of:a sustainability indication indicating that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route,wherein a sustainable communications route is a communications route comprising at least one sustainable communications node, andan Al switch indication indicating that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Artificial Intelligence Model (Al) functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task.

36. A method according to claim 35 comprisingtransmitting, to the communications device in response to the sustainability indication, an instruction to handover to another infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, wherein the infrastructure equipment is not comprised in the sustainable communications route and the other infrastructure equipment is comprised in the sustainable communications route.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the infrastructure equipment is not a sustainable communications node and the other infrastructure equipment is a sustainable communications node.

38. A method according to claim 36, wherein the communications device cannot communicate with a server which is a sustainable communications node via the infrastructure equipment but can communicate with the server via the other infrastructure equipment.

39. A method according to claim 35, comprisingtransmitting, to the communications device in response to the sustainability indication, an allocation of radio resources for the communications device to communicate with the infrastructure equipment, wherein the infrastructure equipment is comprised in the sustainable communications route.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the infrastructure equipment is a sustainable communications node.

41. A method according to claim 39, wherein the communications device can communicate with a server which is a sustainable communications node via the infrastructure equipment.

42. A method according to claim 35, comprisingtransmitting, to the communications device in response to the Al switch indication, an instruction to handover to another infrastructure equipment of the wireless communications network, wherein theP131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 34infrastructure equipment does not support the communications device using the second Al functionality to perform the task and the other infrastructure equipment supports the communications device using the second Al functionality to perform the task.

43. A method according to claim 35, comprisingtransmitting, to the communications device in response to the Al switch indication, an allocation of radio resources for the communications device to communicate with the infrastructure equipment, wherein the infrastructure equipment supports the communications device using the second Al functionality to perform the task.

44. A communications device comprisinga transmitter configured to transmit signals,a receiver configured to receive signals, anda controller configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver totransmit assistance information to infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, wherein the assistance information comprises at least one of:a sustainability indication indicating that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route,wherein the sustainable communications route is a communications route comprising at least one sustainable communications node, andan Artificial Intelligence (Al) switch indication indicating that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Al functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task.

45. Circuitry for a communications device, the circuitry comprisingtransmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals,receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, andcontroller circuitry configured in combination with the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry totransmit assistance information to infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, wherein the assistance information comprises at least one of:a sustainability indication indicating that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route,wherein the sustainable communications route is a communications route comprising at least one sustainable communications node, andan Artificial Intelligence (Al) switch indication indicating that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Al functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task.

46. Infrastructure equipment for a wireless communications network, the infrastructure equipment comprisinga transmitter configured to transmit signals,a receiver configured to receive signals, anda controller configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver toreceive assistance information from a communications device, wherein the assistance information comprises at least one of:P131242PCT / SYP356923 WOOl 35a sustainability indication indicating that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route,wherein a sustainable communications route is a communications route comprising at least one sustainable communications node, andan Al switch indication indicating that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Artificial Intelligence Model (Al) functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task.

47. Circuitry for infrastructure equipment of a wireless communications network, the circuitry comprisingtransmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals,receiver circuitry configured to receive signals, andcontroller circuitry configured in combination with the transmitter circuitry and the receiver circuitry toreceive assistance information from a communications device, wherein the assistance information comprises at least one of:a sustainability indication indicating that the communications device prefers to communicate with the wireless communications network using a sustainable communications route,wherein a sustainable communications route is a communications route comprising at least one sustainable communications node, andan Al switch indication indicating that the communications device prefers to switch from using first Artificial Intelligence Model (Al) functionality to perform a task to using second Al functionality to perform the task.

48. A computer program which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method claim 1.

49. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program according to claim 48.

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